Jae Hyung Woo, a PhD candidate in cognitive neuroscience in the department of psychological and brain sciences, used the Alumni Research Award to fund a novel behavioral experiment exploring how people perceive and learn about risk—bridging prospect theory and reinforcement learning to bring new insight into the neural mechanisms behind adaptive decision-making.
What program are you in, and what drew you to this field of study?
I am pursuing a PhD in cognitive neuroscience in the department of psychological and brain sciences (PBS). I am fascinated by how the brain, as a physical system, gives rise to intelligent and adaptive behavior in living organisms.
Cognitive neuroscience allows me to investigate this question by combining the study of animal and human behavior with highly controlled experiments, which enable quantitative tests of specific hypotheses. I am also drawn to the field’s practical implications for understanding and developing treatments for various neuropsychiatric disorders.
Where do you consider your hometown, and how has your background or early experiences influenced your path into your field of study?
I am from Seoul, South Korea, which is one of the megacities in the world. Growing up in a densely populated and academically competitive environment that values education, I became increasingly self-conscious of how strongly people’s choices and values can be shaped by societal expectations, incentives, and pressure.
I was especially curious about why people respond differently to similar circumstances and what motivates them to pursue certain goals. This curiosity gradually developed into a broader interest in the mechanisms underlying learning and decision-making, ultimately leading me to the field of cognitive neuroscience.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and how did your academic journey lead you to Dartmouth?
I studied applied mathematics and cognitive science at Johns Hopkins University, where I became interested in using quantitative models to understand the brain. This interest first led me to work on a modeling study that aims to explain the large-scale brain network through the lens of a coupled oscillator framework.
As I pursued this direction, however, I came to realize that neural activity related to cognition is most informative when examined alongside the behavior it produces. This interest had led me to discover the works of my current PhD advisor, Dr. Alireza Soltani, whose work focuses on linking neural processes to behavior.
What excites you about your research?
I am drawn to research because there is always an element of unknown and the possibility of unexpected insight. The idea of this was daunting at first, but through my PhD experience, I have come to embrace this uncertainty as a fundamental aspect of scientific research.
It is actually very rare that the results turn out as planned and according to the initial hypothesis, and some of the most interesting insights emerge from trying to understand unexpected patterns in the results. I find this process of discovery deeply rewarding.
In terms of actual research topics, what motivates and excites me most is the field’s potential to make a direct impact on people’s everyday lives. Having a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying flexible, adaptive decision-making implies that we can also better understand how rigid, maladaptive behavioral patterns arise when those mechanisms go awry.
I find it especially encouraging that identifying the mechanisms that support behavioral adjustment could inform behavioral interventions for various disorders. This could enable less invasive and more widely accessible approaches to treatment.
Which faculty members are you collaborating with on your research, and how have their mentorship or research perspectives shaped your approach?
I primarily work with my advisor, Alireza Soltani at PBS. I also discuss and get feedback on my work from my dissertation committee, Professor Matt van der Meer and John D. Murray. In the past, I have also collaborated with Professor Kate Nautiyal at PBS, on analyses of rodent choice behavior in decision-making tasks.
During my PhD years, especially in its early stages, I have devoted a significant amount of time focusing on the quantitative analysis of behavior. Though it felt tedious at times, it proved to be a very fruitful practice in hindsight, because close examination of behavior often revealed insights that would otherwise have been missed.
These experiences have shaped my current perspective that behavioral analysis is as important, if not more, than analysis of neural data, and that the two should be interpreted together when studying cognition.
How has the Alumni Research Award helped advance your current project, and what new possibilities will it create for your upcoming field and lab work?
The award has helped me explore an unknown territory in literature by supporting the design and implementation of a novel behavioral experiment. This project aims to bring together multiple theoretical frameworks and paradigms, including prospect theory and reinforcement learning, to examine how people perceive and learn about risks.
In particular, the award has funded the participant recruitment needed to carry out the study, which would not have been possible through my existing research grants. I see this project as a step toward developing behavioral experiments that more closely reflect naturalistic decision-making and produce findings that are more relevant to everyday life.
Why did you choose Dartmouth to pursue your degree?
In addition to the strong alignment between my research interests and those of my current advisor, the collaborative and supportive atmosphere of the PBS department was a major factor in my decision to come to Dartmouth.
I was also drawn to Dartmouth’s exceptional support for graduate research, including numerous travel grants and funding opportunities that support new innovative ideas, such as the PhD Innovation Program and this award.
Which resources, career support programs, or professional development opportunities at the Guarini School have been most valuable to you, and how have they impacted your experience?
I found the professional development programs extremely helpful, including workshops on writing research grants and navigating the academic job market. Hearing firsthand experience from Dartmouth alums who had gone through the same process was both reassuring and encouraging. Their experiences and advice gave me greater confidence that I could successfully navigate these steps as well.
Outside of your studies, what are some of your hobbies or creative interests?
To be honest, science and research have become my main creative outlet and have absorbed many of my previous interests. I enjoy the process of developing ideas and finding unexpected connections, so I feel fortunate that my research gives me a way to engage those interests regularly.
Outside my main area of study (neuroscience), I am interested in the topic of complex networks and its dynamics in a domain-general sense. These ideas are relevant for understanding not only the human brain network but also macroscopic systems like economies and financial markets. I enjoy thinking about the common principles that may govern these very different systems, and try to maintain collaborations with my colleagues who share these interests.
What is your favourite place or activity at Dartmouth or in the Upper Valley, and why?
My favorite place in Dartmouth is Rauner Library. Its high ceiling reminds me of my favorite library from my undergraduate years and gives the space a sense of openness and possibility. To me, it symbolizes the way new ideas emerge and expand to fill an open space. For the same reason, I also enjoy periodically spending time and working at Irving Institute.
